Abstract
This work aims the development of a simulator to allow the handling of a vehicle by pushing a joystick. This simulator, named “Virtual Car”, was mathematically modeled and implemented using the simulating tool Matlab/Simulink and will be used to test its reliability in a real case. The simulator includes the lateral and longitudinal dynamics in its modeling in terms of vehicle parameters such as mass, center of gravity, characteristics of the tires, and suspension system, among others. A test bench was constructed containing the actuators and sensors, controlled by joystick through an electronic control board that will later be installed in an automobile. The activation of the joystick by the user allows the vehicle to be guided through a virtual road, in which the dynamic responses of the vehicle are graphically recorded. The work displayed here intends to follow main trends for the area of intelligent transport systems that are: use of a few controls to manage a large amount of command and an active vehicle control. The proposal of using the joystick in conjunction with the electronics drive-by-wire (DBW), appears as huge potential to improve safety and vehicle performance, becoming the appropriate solution for the trends above.
Keywords: Vehicle Dynamics, Simulation, Control Systems, Drive by Wire, Simulator